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The First Criminal Bench of the Federal High Court
last week froze properties belonging to WOW
International Garment Factory in the latest chapter
of the gold scandal saga at the National Bank of
Ethiopia (NBE). The Factory, which went operational
a year ago, is among the holdings claimed to have
been registered with Abdurshikur Mohammed Sofam, a
businessman suspected of involvement in the scam.
This is not the first time the Court has frozen
properties of businessmen in relation to NBE’s
unflattering disgrace. On January 3, 2008, it had
frozen properties of six individuals and one
company, which were accused of being accomplices to
the businessmen that are suspected of swindling 158
million Br from the central bank supplying gold
plated steel.
In its latest appeal to the Court, the Federal
Ethics and Anticorruption Commission stated that
Abdurshikur, his brother Sultan Mohammed Sofam and
Hashim Aman Hussein are reported to have been
accomplices to the initial suspects; Mohammed Awel,
a.k.a Mukemil Sheriff, and Mudesir Mohammed Sofam.
“We are probing the individuals following a tip
indicating they have complied with the main
swindlers in hiding the money as well as helping
them flee the country,” stated the Commission.
“Supplying fake gold to NBE for the past two years,
the suspects have profited and deposited the money
in various banks.”
Expressing its fear that these properties and
accounts would be transferred to a third party, the
Commission requested the Court to freeze their
accounts and wealth.
The money and precious metals in any accounts
belonging to Abdurshikur, Sultan and Hashim were
requested to be frozen across the country.
In addition to the garment factory in Dukem town,
34Km southeast of Addis Abeba in the Oromia Regional
State, two houses in Arada District, Kebele 04/05,
House No. 1820 and Bole District that are registered
under Abdurshikur’s name were frozen.
Two houses located in Ledeta District, Kebele 12,
House No. 964/5 and Kirkos District, Kebele 01/18,
House No. 305 registered with Sultan’s name also
were frozen. The latter is the building that houses
Day and Night Fashion on Africa Avenue (Bole Road)
facing Mega Building.
Another house under Hashim’s name in Arada District,
Kebele 01/02, also has been frozen by the Court.
Registered with the name of the same individual, an
electronics warehouse in Bole District has been
frozen.
The Commission also had the Court freeze heavy and
small vehicles that belong to the suspects.
Passing a ruling to freeze the properties, the Court
instructed the circulation of the decision to all
banks and government agencies.
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